PURE joy!

Heyo! This week may have been the best week of my life! AHHHHH I swear my mission keeps getting better and better. You think it can't get better than it is, then BOOM! Heavenly Father proves you wrong! The church is so true. 

Miracles:  

Pam Morrow is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! And she could not be happier. Saturday was a gift, to say the least. Pam has been going to church every Sunday for about 6 months, so the entire ward was thrilled when they found out that she was finally being baptized. They went above and beyond, making it as special as they could for her, and she was so grateful. But all the fluff and floof aside, the entire program was so emotional. We sang and we cried and we laughed. Pam cried most of the meeting and the spirit filled the entire church building...it was beyond powerful, and very humbling. But I must say the most awe inspiring moment was when the actual ordinance took place. As Pam was buried, then lifted again out of the water the look on her face was indescribable. She could not move and she could hardly breathe, she was so overcome with joy. She looked as if her soul was jumping up and down inside. As she was helped out of the font we wrapped her in a towel and she smothered us with a hug. We held her and she cried. I have never seen someone so visibly affected by a baptism before. It was beyond words. Ahh I wish you all could have been there! She was so prepared, and she is so prepared! Prepared to keep the covenants she has made, and prepared to progress further in the gospel and to become more like her Savior. 

On Sunday as Pam was confirmed the light in her countenance shone for the entire ward to see. She said she felt a weight physically being lifted off her shoulders as she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Priesthood holders in the circle said they could feel her sink into the chair when that sacred gift was given. Pure joy filled the chapel that day and I felt like a Saint on my way to Zion as we sung the hymns and prayed together.

I think about all the miracles the Savior performed while He was on the earth, and at times I am envious of those that got to witness him raising the dead, or giving sight to the blind, but on Saturday I was humbly reminded that I have a front row seat to the greatest miracle He has ever performed, and forever will perform: changing hardened hearts and healing broken souls. I would never in a million years give up this opportunity to serve a mission. To serve my Savior. 

Now in addition to all of that, this week we found a family...a family of 4! We have been praying and fasting specifically for a family of 4 and on Saturday we received a referral from the Trail Center. We followed up last night and sure enough a FAMILY of 4! A mom, a dad, and 2 sons. (Ages 9 and 11) We taught them the Restoration and committed them to read and to pray and set a return appointment. After we had finished, the Father asked us if his family joined, would him and his wife have the opportunity to renew their vows to last for eternity. The spirit engulfed the room as we bore testimony of the truth and answered his questions. So please keep them in your prayers! The Sugroue family. 

Funnies:

Pam called us on Saturday morning super anxious about her baptism and almost in tears, so naturally we did what any good sister missionary would...we went to Panda express and bought her some chow mien and orange chicken. Haha she was real grateful! 

Also Pam LOVES animal print, so we wore animal print for her baptism. She was through the moon about it! 

Spiritual thought: 

In Matthew 4:1-9 Satan tempts Christ to use His God-given power in pursuit of fame, fortune, food, etc. His ultimate temptation is to get Christ to be selfish, to turn inward instead of outward, "IF thou be the Son of God..." 

Elder Bednar explains, "Satan's strategy, in essence, was to dare the Son of God to improperly demonstrate his God-given powers, to sacrifice meekness and modesty, and thereby betray who he was. Thus, Satan attempted repeatedly to attack Jesus' understanding of who He was and of His relationship with His Father." 

Just as Satan tempted Christ by enticing Him to forget who He was, he does the same to us! He strives to convince us to forget who we are...children of the Most High God! We have divine potential, nature, and worth. 

I love the first chapter of Moses because Moses gives us a great sure-fire example of how to KILL Satan's temptations. 

"And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son (or daughter) of God, in similitude of His Only Begotten...Get thee hence Satan, deceive me not." (Moses 1:13,16) 

So this week I encourage each of you to REMEMBER who you are and who you are becoming. When you feel temptation creeping in, recite this scripture in Moses and remind Satan that you know you are a child of God, and cast him out. 

I LOVE you all to all the small towns in Western Nebraska and back! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen